Today is the last day I will spend trying to finish getting my CEU’s (certifide educational units) for my Personal Fitness Trainers license. This something that has to be done every 4 years.  Let me tell you that it was an experience that surprised me. I met some pretty interesting people who’s hopes and dreams are always inspiring..The classes where fun with areas of difficulty that pushed me to my limits. My body is sore and tired..! Imagine working out for 5 hours in one day. I do think it’s pretty cool that there are so many ways that you can exercise your body. I watched so many people trying so hard in class taking notes and trying to get it all in, when I know, that you will be LUCKY if you remember 2 new techniques. Or better yet, you will never be able to understand your own notes…You know the ones you wrote down so fast thinking you will be able to dupilcate what you learned.. Sounds kind of funny but it’s the truth. Also, is there any truth to trade marking your own “move”or “routine”?? I heard this a few times…How that is possible is beyond me…But I try to keep an open mind. I took several classes each day. Thats like working out for 5 hours in one day. Now I love to work out but this was a bit extreme. More then once I was in the back of the class instead of being in the front. My body was not functioning up to it’s highest level at this point in time. I think my legs had left my body! My yoga class was truly an amazing experience…nicely taught by my a girl named Sarah. She managed to stretch every muscle in my body twice!! I think the man behind me had a better time considering his view of myself and the other women in the class while maintaining ” down dog” position. Oh well..enough said there. Now that my day is done ..rest assure my body will be sore and I will remember this moment for the next couple of days. I think I’m partially paralized!! Time to say good-bye for now and let my poor body recover from this long weekend. My bed never felt so good. ;-))

Coming back to work and getting back into the swing of things is always harder after a weekend at the beach.  We spent the last 5 days at our house in New Smyrna Beach and I’m not ready to be home yet.  

Near Daytona, New Smyrna Beach is a quiet, mostly seasonal and tourist type beach town.  We bought a house there a couple of years ago and we try to get there as much as possible - but it’s not nearly enough, of course!  This place, for me, is paradise!

With everything within walking or bike riding distance including the beach, the small downtown area, restraunts, Publix, etc. you really never have to get into your car.  We find ourselves completely obsessed with the outdoors while we are there.  At home our time is so limited that when we are there we like to spend as much  time outside in the beautiful sunshine as possible.  Malia loves to play on the beach and make sand castles.  This weekend Uncle Scott was the premiere castle builder and he and Brian even made her into a mermaid!  She looked soooo cute!

Uncle Scott and Aunt Nee Nee even tried paddle surfing!  Brian and I love paddle surfing and we both went out on Saturday - it was beautiful!  Scott and Denise both did really well for their first time on the boards! I think Denise would have stayed out all day if she wasn’t so afraid of being eaten by sharks! (I’m not making fun - I’m scared too!)  Other than Jill and Kevin, they were the first of our friends to try out paddle surfing and we were very impressed!

Anyway, the weekend was great and now we are back at it.  When is the next vacation?……….

We are so excited!!  My family has been invited to stay with friends at their Villa in Lucca, Italy for a week this summer!  What a treat!  None of us has been to Italy yet and what an exciting way to go.  We will be staying in a private Villa in Lucca for the week with Fred and Robin Cunningham and about twenty others of their family and friends, many whom we have never met.  Our good friends the Rofrano Family are going along on the trip as well so a few old friends and a few new ones - sounds like a party!  Let’s go!  I can’t wait!

I have been doing my research on the internet and I picked up several great books on Italy and a travel language CD as well - all at Amazon.com, of course.

Please leave comments if you have suggestions for sites to see or “Do Not Miss” stuff to see in Italy.